MEDENINE, Tunisia, December 26 (UNHCR) – A rich spicy smell wafts from the simple kitchen, where a stew and a saucepan of beans are bubbling on the gas rings. But here on the fourth floor of this hostel for mostly African refugees and asylum seekers, although the men's basic needs are taken care of, there's a sense of life in limbo.

23 December 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended the Tunisian people on the successful holding of the second round of presidential elections on 21 December and congratulated the winner, Beji Caid Essebsi.

“This historic event is a critical step in the country’s transition and a clear demonstration of the people’s desire for accountable and representative government,” said a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesman.

The Desert Locust (SGR1 ) situation deteriorated along the Red Sea coast in the central outbreak region during November. Aerial and ground operations treated swarms and groups of adults and hoppers on close to 83,000 ha in Sudan during this month. A few adult locusts were detected on the Gulf of Aden & the Red Sea coastal plains in Yemen the last week of November. No locusts were reported in Ethiopia, Oman or Somalia and no reports were received from Eritrea or Saudi Arabia during this period (DLCO-EA, DLMCC/Yemen, LCC/Oman, PPD/Sudan).

The North Africa subregion serves as either a transit or final destination for sizeable mixed migration movements from subSaharan Africa. In addition, the instability still affecting much of North Africa continues to generate irregular movements from the region to Europe. UNHCR offices throughout North Africa witnessed an increase in the number of asylum-seekers in 2013.

24 November 2014 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today extended his congratulations to the people of Tunisia on the occasion of their first presidential election since revolution swept the country and ushered in an era of democratic change.

“The polls, conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, mark an important step forward for the country’s political transition process,” Mr. Ban said, in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

GENEVA (24 November 2014) – United Nations expert on the independence of the judiciary Gabriela Knaul will undertake an official visit to Tunisia from 27 November to 5 December 2014 to assess the independence of judges, lawyers, and prosecutors, as well as the working of the justice system.

As Tunisia approaches the country’s Presidential elections on November 23, the ‘Arab Spring’ birthplace has a lot to be proud of, having safely wrapped up its first Parliamentary elections since the new constitution was ratified. However, election observers indicate that, as expected, the youth, the revolution’s driving force, remain reluctant to cast their vote.

Government authorities and aid agencies in Tunisia say they are prepared for a sudden additional flood of refugees from Libya despite growing public hostility to the influx ahead of presidential elections.

Algiers (ICRC) – An important meeting of experts from Arab States on international humanitarian law is starting in Algiers today under the joint patronage of Algeria's justice minister and keeper of the seals and of Christine Beerli, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The meeting brings together government experts from Algeria, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco and other Arab countries along with representatives of the Arab League and experts from the ICRC.